This is a work of fiction. The names are no way real or to
be associated with anyone alive or dead. This is copyrighted, and belongs to
me. No one is to copy this without my written permission.

I would like to thank my friend Bill H. for his editing of
this chapter and creative input also.

From Chapter 24 ...

"Can I get you anything
else," the stewardess asks Jeanne.

"No thank you I fine," she
says as she tilts her seat back. "What time do we land in Madrid," she asks.

"Well if all goes well 11:15
am their time," she tells her.

Jeanne relaxes back and her
thoughts drift around in her mind, and she finds her thoughts on David.

`I had to kill him to protect
you my brother, for I know you will not let it go. I know you have set your
hounds to seek out the babies' father, knowing that you would seek your revenge
for what he did to me. So now you are safe my love and my babies also.'

She falls to sleep and her
dreams drift to Max and his pleases of mercy, and she shudders at how her
father's evil side has surfaced in her. She sees Max's eyes as he looks into
hers as he gives up his life at her hands. She cries out to God for mercy and
forgiveness, as she moans out in despair.

"Ms Cooper, wake up," the stewardess
says as she gently shakes her awake. "You were having a bad dream."

"Oh forgive me," she says as
she sits her seat upright. "I get those from time to time. They are a left
over from my childhood I surmise," and she wipes the sweat from her brow, as
the stewardess offers her a cup of tea.

*****

Mitch sits in the dark of his
room and stares out of the window, and holds a gun in his hand. The tears run
down his face as he contemplates his decision, and brings the gun slowly up to
his head.

*****

"Ladies and gentlemen, this
is your pilot speaking. We have encountered some problems with engine one and
have had to shut it down. At this time we can still fly safely to our closes
airport but I have turned on the seatbelt sign."

"Mike there's a problem with
number two engine now," the co-pilot says as he looks with fear at the pilot.

"Fuck we have to shut that
one also, but I don't think we can make New York before we do," he says as he
searches his options.

*****

"Tyler call 911 quick," Brian
yells as he bursts through the front door.

Chapter 25 ...

"Mike we have a private
airport listed in Mayville New York," Lee the co-pilot says as he searches his
maps.

"That we can make," he says.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, we are
going to make an emergency landing in Mayville New York. Please prepare for an
emergency landing as instructed when you first began this trip."

The passengers put up all
trays and seats, as the stewardess' picked up all the loose articles. Jeanne
sat there wondering if this was how she would end her life, as she feels the
plane start it's decent, and the passengers lean their heads forward towards
their lap. The plane quickly approaches the lighted runway and soon the wheels
touch down.

*****

Joshua woke with a start and
sat upright in bed, as his thought focused on Mitch. He looks at his cell
phone and picks it up, and he notices it has one new message. He punches in
his code and listens to the message that Mitch has left him.

"Josh I'm sorry for my past
and I will do whatever you wish of me but just come back to me please. I know
about your past with Clay babe, and I am nothing like him, I love you and I just
want you to come back to me, and I going to quit my job."

He dials Mitch's number and
it rings, and he gets the answering machine.

"Mitch babe, this is me and I
want to make us work," he says to the machine. "Please pick this up if you can
hear me," and Mitch picks up the phone as he cries hard into the receiver, and
Josh cries along with him.

"I'm so sorry Josh for the
pain I've caused you and I will do whatever you ask of me, but just come back
to me love."

"Mitch come and get me babe,
I need you so badly, and my heart breaks for you. I was wrong to judge you as
I did Clay, we can work this out my love."

"I'm on my way lover, just
wait for me," and they hang up and Mitch looks at his gun. He goes over to his
dresser and puts it back into his drawer from where he got it, and rushes off
to get his love.

*****

"What's wrong Brian," Tyler yells out as he hangs up the phone.

"It's David, he's hung
himself in the barn," he says and Tyler collapses on the floor.

"Tyler babe," Brian yells out
as he tries to revive him, and he slowly starts to come to. "He's alive but
just barely, the rope must have broken," he says as the sounds of the siren
approach.

They run out to the barn and
Bret is holding David, and his color is blue and his breathing shallow.

"Don't you dare leave me,"
Bret cries as the paramedics rush in, and they are followed by Tyler and Brian.

They examine David and put
him on a stretcher, and they place an oxygen mask over his mouth and nose. One
paramedic looks up at the other, as he points to the rope mark on his neck.

"The fall must have crushed
his wind pipe; we're going to have to do a tracheotomy." They radio the
hospital and a doctor talks them through the procedure, and he starts to breath
again once it is done.

"Oh God why was I so cruel
and unforgiving to him," Bret cries into Tyler's holding arms.

"Listen child, this isn't
your fault, he chose to do this, and you had nothing to do with it."

"Yes I did Ty, I told him to
move out of our bedroom, and that I may not ever be able to forgive him. And
that was just after I told him that I would be able to work through with him
anything he did."

"Well some things are harder
to accept than others, and cheating is the hardest of all."

"What's going on in there,"
Josh asks Brian at the barn door.

"David tried to commit
suicide son," he tells him and Josh goes white as snow.

"Not David, he's so strong,"
and his eyes fill with tears. "Is he going to be all right," he asks.

"We don't know yet, but we
pray that he will."

"Babe what's wrong," Mitch
asks as he comes up behind them and takes Josh into his arms.

"It's David, he tried to
commit suicide," he tells him.

"I'm taking him away from
this," Mitch says to Brian, who nods then goes into the barn. "It had to be
the guilt he was dealing with."

Josh asks about how he knew
about that and Mitch explains everything to him, and he cries as he tells him
it all.

"One thing I want you to know
Josh, before you say another word. I have never and will never lie to you. I
have always told you the truth, even if it meant I might loose you. So I hope
that if nothing else proves my love for you, that alone should show you how
much I love you."

"Thank you Mitch for being
truthful with me, and can you forgive me for judging you," he asks looking into
Mitch's eyes.

"I have nothing to forgive
you for love, but I do have something to tell you. I want you to know this
before I bring you home, because once I bring you into my house it will no
longer be mine. The moment you step foot into that house again, it will
forever become ours."

"Whatever path our love takes
Mitch, I'll be there with you," Josh says as Mitch goes quiet and then starts
to speak.

"Tonight when you called me I
was so distraught, that I had a gun to my head," and Josh puts his hands to his
mouth. "I was about to pull the trigger when I heard your sweet voice on the
answering machine, and I put down my gun and started to cry. Then when you
told me you loved me and that you wanted to make it work, I grabbed the phone
with joy in my heart."

"Take me home to our house
babe," Josh says as he slides over to sit next to his love. "I love you Mitch
and I give my heart to you, but most of all I trust you with it."

*****

Once inside the terminal
Jeanne fades into the shadows, and she slips out of a door into the streets.
She hails a cab down and gets into the back seat.

"Take me to the closes
Hotel," she tells the cabby.

"Quite a commotion going on
over there," he says to her.

"Yeah I wonder what that is
all about," she says thankful to be out of the limelight.

With a near crash there would
be news people all over the place, and she didn't want her face on the
television or in the papers. As the drive towards town she sees a Channel 3
news truck heading towards the airport, and she is thankful she got out when
she did.

"Gotta be something big for
Channel 3 to be heading there," he says to her. "You didn't see anything while
you were there," he asks.

"No I came in earlier and got
myself something to eat so I must have missed whatever it was."

"Here you go, it doesn't look
like much but the rooms are clean and decent, and the staff is friendly," he
says as she hands him a twenty and tells him to keep it. "Gee thanks ma'am."

She goes inside and gets
herself a room, and watches the news that is on the television.

"Almost had a plane crash
tonight," an elderly gent says to her. "How can I help you," he asks.

"I'd like a room for the
night," she says. "I have a flight in the morning so I would like a wake up
call for seven please."

"Were you on that flight Miss
Cooper," he asks as he reads the register.

"No I came in on another flight
thank God," she says.

She gets to her room and she
collapses on the bed, and she soon falls asleep.

*****

David is rushed into the
operating room, and Dr. Marks comes down to see Bret. He explains to the
doctor just what has gone on, and they discuss what is going to happen now.

"He is going to go ballistic
when he realizes he is in that ward again," Bret says remembering the past.
"God I know I will be the blame for this also."

"Listen Bret, he brought this
on himself," Tyler says. "I know he may call me dad but he is one spoiled
fucking kid."

"But he's my spoiled kid Ty
and I love him."

"I know you do babe, but
sometimes we have to give those we love what they call tough love, he knows how
to manipulate you Bret."

"He's right about tough love
Bret," Dr. Marks says to him. "David has this need to be the center and let
life revolve around him. When it doesn't revolve his way he becomes unnerved
and lashes out in what ever way he can. This tonight is most unusual though
for even those of David's type though."

"How long will he have to be
in the hospital," he asks the doctor.

"Well state law demands a
thirty day evaluation period unless deemed sane earlier."

"God thirty days without
seeing him, I don't think I could do that again."

"Oh you may see him whenever
you like, as long as it doesn't disturb his sessions."

"And Mr. O'Malley, your
sister is due to arrive tomorrow," he tells Brian. "I will be evaluating her
and send my evaluation to the courts, both in Texas and Massachusetts."

"When may her family be
allowed to see her," Brian asks.

"Well lets see, she will
arrive tomorrow, be evaluated on Wednesday, I would surmise that Thursday or
later would be good."

"She hasn't seen her boys
since the shooting and they are anxious to see her also."

"Well I have your number and
I will let you know about visitations Brian."

He leaves and they wait to
hear about David's condition, and Bret doesn't agree with the doctor.

"I know what Dr. Marks is
saying about tough love and all, but I don't think I could do that with David."

"Bret listen to yourself, you
are doing just what David wants you to do, and he wants you to think he is the
victim here. He knows that you will feel sorry for him and come running with
your arms wide open, and take him back without him having to beg or even
consider the consequences of his actions."

"I know you are right but I
love him so much, and I don't want to loose him at all."

"So you have to give up being
you and have no feelings that can be hurt, just to keep him, well honey that's
not love that's slavery."

The doctor comes in to update
them on David's condition and he smiles as he approaches.

"Well he was lucky that the
rope broke because he would have died otherwise. His windpipe was severely
damaged but we were able to repair it, and he should be good as new physically
in a few weeks. He won't be able to speak until he has healed, but I see no
complications there as well."

"Thank you doctor, will we be
able to see him," Bret asks.

"Once he is moved from recovery,
he will be taken to the psyche ward for observation. You will have to talk to
his attending doctor there to schedule a visit. Well if you will excuse me I
have other patients to attend to," he says and leaves.

"Bret you want my opinion,"
Brian who has held his tongue through all this says. "I would recommend that
you go home until Dr. Marks calls you."

"Oh God Brian, David will
think I don't care about him," Bret says as he starts to well up.

"Let him think about what he
has done, and what it may have cost him."

"Brian's right love, and I
love David dearly, but he has to be held accountable for his actions," Tyler says.

"I don't know who this is
going to be harder on, me or David," Bret says as they get up to leave.

"You know Bret; once he is
recovered fully make him woo you back. Have him date you again and gain your
trust again, and then become lovers."

Bret sits and considers what
he has been told, and then he rises and looks at them both.

"Take me home guys; I'm going
to give David a taste of his own medicine. Just do me one favor though."

"Anything love," Tyler says giving him a hug.

"Talk me out of it if I
become weak and fall back into my old ways."

"I'll bitch slap you into the
next millennium," Brian says laughing.

They take him home and he
comes into the house, and it's quiet without David there.

"Stop looking for him and get
on with your life," he thinks to himself. "You have four children upstairs
that need their daddy."

"What do you mean your
quitting, you can't quit kid I need you," he says sharply.

"I'm sorry Dan but I can't do
this kind of work any longer."

"Listen to me you ungrateful
piece of shit, you will not only still work for me, but you will also be my
bitch," he says grabbing Mitch's crotch.

Mitch backs away from Dan as
his face goes white with fear.

"Dan please I can't do this,"
and he turns to walk out.

"You walk out that door kid I
will turn your ass in to the police for your crimes," Dan says as Mitch freezes
in his tracks. "I thought you would see things my way," Dan says as Mitch
turns to him.

"That may have worked on
David Strathmore Dan, but I have enough on you also to put you away for a long,
long time," and he turns and walks out.

*****

The phone rings in Jeanne's
room to wake her up, and she asks that a taxi be called. Twenty minutes later
a taxi pulls up, and she gets in and it takes her to the airport. She goes
into the terminal and up to the airline window of the airline she flew in on
the day before.

"I wish to continue my flight
to Madrid please, I was on the flight that made an emergency landing
yesterday," she tells them and gives them her ticket.

"We had looked for you
yesterday Ms. Cooper," the attendant says.

"I was so upset I just
grabbed a taxi to a hotel for the night."

"Well we're glad you are fine
and will be glad to book you on the next flight which by the way is now
boarding at gate 21," she says.

"What about my luggage from
yesterday?"

"That will be transferred as
well; most of yesterday's guests are on this flight as well."

She hustles down to gate 21,
and they are just finishing the final boarding call. She gives them her
boarding pass and boards then finds her seat. Twenty minutes after takeoff she
leans her seat back to rest.

"Are you heading to Madrid also," the charming young man says to her.

"Yes I am," she says letting
the conversation drop.

"The name's Kyle Jameson," he
says. "I'm heading back home also."

"That's nice for you Kyle,"
she says again adding nothing to the conversation but he doesn't let it drop.

"Do I detect a bit of Texas in your voice," and now she is very annoyed.

"Listen Kyle you may be a
perfectly good young man, but I have had the worst last twenty four hours and
only wish to sleep," she says snapping at the man.

"I'm sorry miss that was very
insensitive of me, I will not disturb you any longer," he says pleasantly.

She lays there now quite
unable to sleep, for she feels guilty for snapping at him. She sits her seat
up and glances at him, and notices how handsome he is.

"Listen Kyle I'm sorry for
snapping at you, the name's Jeanne Marie Cooper," she says as his faces lights
up when she talks.

"That's all right Jeanne; my
mother always says I am way too talkative," he says and then smiles.

"You have a beautiful smile
Kyle," she says as she pats his hand. "So where in Spain do you live," she
asks.

"I live with my folks in Madrid; my dad is a liaison for the state department."

"So what do you do," she
asks.

"I'm an architect in Madrid at the moment. What about you, do you work?"

"No I'm independently
wealthy," she says laughing. "Seriously I'm a school teacher but I took my
trust fund and decided to make a clean start somewhere new."

They chat for most of the
flight and exchange cell phone numbers as the pilot announces that they are
approaching Madrid Barajas Airport.

"Thank you Kyle for a lovely
flight," Jeanne says as she kisses his cheek.

"No thank you for being such
a gracious listener," he says as he lifts her hand and kisses it. "May I call
you and take you out for dinner some evening," he asks.

"I would be insulted if you didn't,"
she says and loves the way he blushes. "I'm staying at the Melia Castilla
Hotel," she tells him as they touch down.

They claim their luggage and
he offers her a ride.

"Kyle I couldn't impose on
you like that," she says.

"It would not be an imposition
at all," he says.

"Well I would like that then
if you do not mind."

They walk to his car that is
parked in the long term parking area, and he puts her luggage in the trunk.

"You have a very beautiful
city here, and yes it is Texas you detected in my accent."

"Do you speak Spanish at all
or just your native English," he asks.

"No I'm fluent in both why,"
she asks.

"It's very helpful to be
fluent in Spanish in Madrid, especially when dealing with the peasants."

"Please don't refer to the
less fortunate as that Kyle, it really upsets me to hear them called that."

"Forgive me Jeanne, but they
have been called that as long as I can remember," he says looking into her
eyes. "Well here is your hotel my dear, and I will be calling you soon."

"Thank you Kyle for the
ride," she says as he takes her luggage from the trunk.

A bellhop comes out to take
her luggage, and she offers her hand to say goodbye. He takes her and places
it on his waist and kisses her softly on her lips. She wraps her arms around
his neck and she opens her mouth some to let his tongue in.

"My God Kyle you can kiss,"
she says as she gasps for air.

"Until next we meet Jeanne,"
he says as he gets in his car and drives away.

She checks into her hotel and
the bellhop escorts her to her room. She tips him grandly and she flops on the
bed.

"Get a grip girl," she says
aloud, as she still reels from Kyle's kiss. "It was only a kiss."

She gets up and plugs her
laptop into the internet hookup and quickly brings up the internet version of
the Dallas Post newspaper. She scans the front page and her eyes freeze as she
finds a story that hits home.

LOCAL BILLIONAIRE TRIES TO
COMMIT SUICIDE!

Local billionaire David
Strathmore tried to commit suicide last evening at his home. Although at the
time of press the details were still hazy, his condition is still unknown.

"David why, what have you
been doing," she asks aloud as she reads the story. She starts to send off an
email to Bret and ask about David, and then hits cancel when she changes her
mind. "This smells of you David, I'm not going to bite this time," she says as
she closes her laptop and her room phone rings.

"Hello," she says.

"Hello beautiful," Kyle says
and she lights up. "How about dinner at six tonight," he says.

"You're a fast mover aren't
you Kyle," she says to him.

"When one finds a perfect
jewel, they go after it."

"Six is good handsome, I'm
room 1164," she tells him.

She's dancing on air as she
hangs up and she heads to the shower. It's almost five thirty when she is
ready to go. A knock on the door makes her heart race and jump, and she quickly
goes to answer it.

"Who is it," she calls out
although she knows and he softly answers her back.

She opens the door and Kyle
is standing there holding a dozen red roses.

"These pale to your beauty
Jeanne," he says as he enters and gives her a kiss.

"Thank you for the roses
Kyle, although you didn't have to do this."

"We have reservations at the
Restaurante Santceloni for six in a private dining room."

"Even the name sounds
expensive," she says.

He slips on her shawl as they
leave to go to dinner. The restaurant is as glamorous as its name, and they
are escorted to their private dining room as soon as they arrive.

"Kyle you make me feel like
Cinderella going to the ball," she says as he holds her chair.

"Jeanne I have never been so
taken by a woman before. You have completely stolen my heart and that is not an
easy thing to do with me," he tells her. "Just these last few hours since we
met I feel that I have known you my entire life."

"You are so easy and
enjoyable to be with Kyle, and I also have felt that same presence when I am
with you."

"Do you plan on making Madrid your home or are you just passing through as they say," he asks.

"I'm still not sure where I
want to live yet. I have a home in Texas but for the time being I don't care
to live there for reasons I will keep to myself. But if Madrid is your home I

could find myself easily
staying."

*****

"David don't speak because
you can't right now. Your injury to your neck has damaged your vocal chords as
well. So I will ask you questions that can be answered with a yes or no nods
do you understand me," and David nods yes that he understands Dr. Marks.

He lies there as tears fill
his eyes, and the shame of his deed hits him hard.

"Do you know where you are
David," and he nods yes to the doctor. "Good David, do you know why you are
here," he asks again and he nods no. "Well you tried to kill yourself and we
both know that now don't we," and he nods yes. "Did you really want to die or
was it a ploy to get your way with Bret," and David gets agitated at the
statement and nods no. "So you really wanted to die then," and he again nods
yes. "Is it because you cheated on Bret and he asked you to move out," and his
tears now flow freely as he nods yes. "Are you wondering where Bret is," and
he nods yes quickly. "He has been here all the while you were in surgery and
recovery David. But he has gone home because he feels you need to be
accountable for your actions, do you feel that he is right in his belief," and
he slowly nods yes.

David turns his head as he
cries, and the doctor leaves him to cry.

`I'm so sorry Bret for the
pain I have caused you,' he says to himself in his mind. "Please find it in
your heart to forgive me for what I am about to do,' and his heart monitor
beeps loudly as the line goes flat.